The Henry County Board of Supervisors is asking the Planning Commission to begin the process of amending its solar ordinance to limit the number of solar panels in Henry County to one percent of its total land mass.
The cap would be in addition to existing restrictions such as the 2.5 percent density requirement.
One percent of the county’s total land mass would equate to approximately 2,400 acres. Approximately 1,200 acres are currently in the process of development for industrial solar farm usage. Developers have also proposed plans that would add another 600 acres to that total.
In other matters, the Board:
- Directed County Attorney George Lyle to petition its Circuit Court to forgo a special election that would fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Sheriff Lane Perry on July 1, 2023.
- Appropriated the FY24 County Budget.
- Awarded a contract to Smith Turf & Irrigation in the amount of $103,211 for the purchase of ground maintenance equipment to be used primarily at the Smith River Sports Complex.
- Approved a transfer appropriation of $130,138 from the Smith River Small Towns project and Small Grants cost center to the Fieldale Heritage project. The funds will be used to complete the architectural and engineering services for the project.
- Approved categorical transfers in the public school’s budget totaling $250,000. The transfers include $177,075 from the Administration/Attendance and Health (AAH) category to the Facilities category and another $72,925 from the AAH category to the Operation and Maintenance category. The funds will be used for paving the parking lot at the Center for Community Learning and for painting at various schools.
- Awarded a contract to Excel Truck Group in the amount of $207,503 for the purchase of a knuckleboom-style truck for the Refuse Department.
- Approved an additional appropriation of $10,868 from State Asset Forfeiture Funds to cover the cost of training for the Sheriff’s Office.
- Approved the Six-Year Secondary Road Plan from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
- Approved an additional appropriation of $18,875,216 from the state’s reimbursement towards the construction of the Adult Detention Center and $639,784 of unexpended construction funds to pay of the Series 2019B Bonds.
- Conducted a public hearing and approved a request to rezone approximately 1.62-acres of the Ridgeway District from Suburban Residential District to Agricultural District. The applicant wishes to construct a large, private use storage building on the property.
- Appointed or reappointed the following individuals to boards: Felita Claybrooks and Greg Peitz (Blue Ridge Regional Library Board); Scott Prillaman and Melvin Brown Jr. (Parks & Recreation Board); Darrell Jones (Community Policy and Management Team); Gracie Agnew (Economic Development Corporation); Willie Scales and Andrea Robertson (Henry-Martinsville Social Services Board); Robert Haley (Patrick & Henry Community College Board); Eric Hairston (Piedmont Community Services Board); and Alisha Hill (Southside Community Action Board).